Tall Pines Golf Club

Tall Pines is a course that I have been meaning to play for some time, and indeed it is one of the last in the area that I hadn't visited. I was probably lacking in enthusiasm in that I was told a few years back that it was OK, but a bit new and up and down. However, i was in the area in early Sept and decided to "give it a go", and after a very reasonable £15 on the county card, off I jolly well went. Luckily, the course was quite quiet (Tuesday 3.00pm)which is always a blessing whilst on your own, and I was able to get a lovely drive away down the 1st, literally downhill and a slight dogleg right, a very nice and tempting opener. The 2nd was back up the hill to the clubhouse, this a tough 400 yarder, especially against the wind. Past the clubhouse and to the 3rd, a hole I found out to be a complete 90 degree left hand dogleg, just right in the left to right wind today and with my inherrant slice......ah well, struggle a 5. So far, three crackin holes and we are now up right next to the airport, and is a plane spotters delight. The next few holes though, whilst all very playable in their own right, are truthfully, the up and down holes, and lack some definition, and then its back to the clubhouse with a delightful Par 3 9th over a ball gathering abyss. The back nine starts with an awkward 397 yard par 4 which seems to narrow just where a good drive would end, and from then on, nothing is repeated, every hole having its own definition with the highlight probably being the 14th, a long par 4 slightly uphill and quite narrow between inpenetrable forest left and more to the right, this being a very suitable stroke index 1. Then its back to the area where it all started, by the 1st and 2nd holes, a lovely sweeping downhill par 5 15, whilst another par 5 made up the 17th, this an altogether different kettle of fish, steep uphill, doglegging left, into the prevailing wind - real toughie, be happy with a par - I was. This then just left a 160 yard par 3 for the 18th. All in all, I came away very impressed with this basically pay as you play course, its a tough old slog with a number of uphill holes but not over bearing. Condition, well basically excellent and would put many members courses to shame, and the greens were very good as well, though many had very subtle slopes, 3 putting was very easy indeed! Friendly staff in the prto-shop and bar, I would recommend this but probably not for 36 holes if you are over 65 and carry a full set!!! A course that will test the low handicapper and one also that gives hope to all others, with no horrid uncut rough anywhere near a playing surface..........one thing that turns players of all abilities off is losing a ball just off the fairway, and although I did lose a couple myself, that was basically awful shots sent straight out of the course!!!

I recently played this course with two friends and with the recent weather having been poor I did not expect too much. I was however delighted to find that this course was in particularly good condition with greens and fairways being well managed. It was a fun days golf on what is a short but reasonably challenging course. The wind adds additional challenge due to the location but all in all good fun. Top tip is to take plenty of cash as cards are not accepted and grren fees have risen to £20. Testing

Tall Pines is labelled as a "Public" golf course, but when our four-ball arrived, we were told that it is members only on weekends and weekday mornings. This means that visitors are only welcome on weekday afternoons? Surely not...

Can be a tough course, especially in the winter / Spring months due to winds. Found holes 4-7 are very close to each other and I think dangerous, I say this because I was hit by a golfer teeing off and I was only 10 yards off my fairway!! Personally i dont think i will play it again as these holes are just too close and you spend all your time watching for wayward tee shots. Shame cos its not a bad course.

This course has greatly improved over the last two years or so. The greens are excellent , the fairways are as good as any and the new layout on hole two works very well. We found it very friendly and relaxed. The staff in the pro shop and bar and the mebers and players were unusually friendly. Well worth a visit.

I have played this course quite a few times now and it is always challenging and a pleasure to play on with stunning views across the channel. The bar staff are very friendly and have made me feel very welcome, as have the members.

Terrible excuse for a parkland course,always lots of building work going on with tempary greens.Clubhouse is very small & inhospitable.